Bridge work to aid Ocean Beauty

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has announced a deal for bridge repairs vital to processor Ocean Beauty's Excursion Inlet cannery.

Salmon notes

Here are a few observations from the salmon season thus far.

• The statewide, all-species catch now exceeds 105 million fish. Of these, more than 49 million are sockeyes. But pink salmon catches are soon expected to eclipse sockeye catches. The state has projected a total commercial harvest this year of about 204 million salmon.

• The Bristol Bay season is essentially over, and it'll go down as a strong year. The sockeye catch stands at 37.5 million fish, or 10 million above the preseason forecast of 27.5 million. Major processors sent gillnetters home with a base price of $1 per pound, up from 76 cents last year and 50 cents in 2015.

• Dillingham radio station KDLG has an interesting story about workplace complaints at the Silver Bay Seafoods processing plant in Naknek.

ASMI news

The governor has reappointed Tomi Marsh, of Ketchikan, to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute board of directors.

Two bodies recovered from F/V Miss Destinee

Here's a press release from the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Marmot Bay
Type: Capsized vessel, death investigation
On 6/29/17, at 0854 hours, the Alaska State Troopers in Kodiak received a report from the U.S. Coast Guard that they were on scene of a capsized fishing vessel in Marmot Bay. USCG reported that they had recovered two survivors in the water but two crewmembers were unaccounted for off the F/V Miss Destinee. Investigation revealed that while traveling through Marmot Bay en route to Kodiak the vessel was struck by a "rogue wave" on the port side causing it to lay over and eventually roll to the starboard side. The survivors were in the upper wheelhouse and were able to exit the vessel and cling to the skiff which had floated up off the deck of the boat. USCG had assumed case responsibility. On 7/4/17 at approximately 0745 hours, Kodiak AST was advised that the salvage company was able to right the F/V Miss Destinee and began dewatering procedures. The F/V Miss Destinee was towed to the Kodiak harbor. AST along with Kodiak City Fire and USCG Marine Safety Detachment responded to the vessel and located and recovered the remains of the missing crewmembers from inside the vessel. The state medical examiner's office requested that the remains of both victims be transported for autopsy. The two deceased are identified as Joshua Osborne, 18, and Abigail Osborne, 22, both of Wasilla. Next of kin was notified.

Swamped in Bristol Bay

State and Coast Guard officials say four fishing vessels have sunk or beached in Bristol Bay near Dillingham. Radio station KDLG reports the boats might have been struggling with big loads of fish. The F/V Ketok is seen here aground at Ekuk. The Bristol Bay salmon fishery typically peaks around the Fourth of July. The catch so far this season is a rather unremarkable 6.6 million fish. ADF&G photo